Cafe Seat on a stock bike

[littlebill31]

I searched for a while, but cant seem to find a good cafe seat that will fit on a stock '81 without cutting the frame.
I really dont want to make my own either. Just looking for a ready made one.
Any help is appreciated

 

[weekendrider]

Isn't the one you have now considered a cafe style seat? What do you want to change?

 

[littlebill31]

Yes, it is.
I should clarify. I want one that is fiberglass and has the paintable rear bubble. And a more flat appearance.
I have seen them, but cant locate any for sale.

 

[fredintoon]

I searched for a while, but cant seem to find a good cafe seat that will fit on a stock '81 without cutting the frame.
I really dont want to make my own either. Just looking for a ready made one.
Any help is appreciated

Hi littlebill,
I guess you want a flattie bumstop seat pad and cover on a stock '80+ seat pan?
Betcha your only options are to DIY or to get a custom seat built onto a salvaged seat pan at a vehicle upholsterer's shop.
You want a hollow bumstop to put electrical stuff in/integrate lights into or just a simple padded blob?

 

[littlebill31]

Thanks. I was hoping to find one already done.
I'll be using a PMA and no battery, so the electrics area won't be needed.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Have you seen Wes' seats?

http://www.xs650.com/threads/counter-balance-cycles-seats-back-in-stock.31993/

 

[littlebill31]

Thanks. I was not wanting to cut my frame though. All of his appear to need a loop.

 

[member3480]

Do you want like this that I did a while back

 

[member3480]

EBAY
http://www.ebay.com/itm/XS-650-Cafe...ash=item4657506309:g:k8MAAOSwHsRYCApG&vxp=mtr

 

[member3480]

EBAY
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cafe-Racer-...ash=item2caf682cfb:g:5rUAAOSwAPlXhj2y&vxp=mtr

 

[member3480]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cafe-Racer-...-Custom-Studded-Motorcycle-Seat-/191890542664
I am doing a café right now with GSXR front end

 

[ThatXS650Guy]

Those Chinese seats don't look that bad. Wary of buying from china though.. Price is tempting...

 

[member3480]

I am thinking about buying 10 of them and just reflip . I have two coming in soon

 

[jetmechmarty]

http://motorcycleseatsdirect.com/
http://www.motorcycleseatsdirect.com/search.php?search_query=xs650&x=12&y=6

Most of the reviews I could find were favorable. The down side is that you eat big shipping charges if you don't like it.

It appears Mike's XS dropped the '80-'83 cafe seat. That's too bad. It looked good on those bikes.

 

[member3480]

Well the guy I am buying from is FREE shipping so I am going to check them out and like I said I may buy some. They have them for a lot of bikes. I buy the piston kits from another guy and they have all worked great so far. I have a CB750 with a big bore kit and it has already clocked 18,000 miles and all good. This is why this voting bullshit is crazy. You can get good stuff from overseas and here in US we made it so hard for a small business to stay open.
AS AMERICANS WE ARE IN TROUBLE. I hate to buy overseas but that is where the deals are.

 

[littlebill31]

Thanks. I have the one from Mikesxs, but I want a bum bump and flat. Mikes is a great seat, but it sits too high for me.

 

[system9]

A japanese company named AN-BU makes seats specifically for the XS650 specials. Downside, they are far away and expensive, but you can order them.
http://japan.webike.net/bm/pl/Bodyworks/1110/#!search&&p.c=1110&p.b=1403&p.k=xs650

 

[Brassneck]

Here's mine... I got it from Airtech... had it upholstered/painted. I didn't cut up my frame, but did come up with a seat frame under the fiberglass seat pan so I could use the side hinges. Not sure on your year that's an option...but if you don't care about the rear latch, and come up with your own mounting options, you could use this.

 

[littlebill31]

Here's mine... I got it from Airtech..

That's a beauty!! That's exactly what I am looking for.
I have an '81 Special II.
Is there anyway you could get me some pictures of the underside?
And what type from Airtech. I see they have several variations.
Thanks

 

[Brassneck]

That's a beauty!! That's exactly what I am looking for.
I have an '81 Special II.
Is there anyway you could get me some pictures of the underside?
And what type from Airtech. I see they have several variations.
Thanks

I'm not home, but there's a few pics in my albums...here's how it came:

Even though they don't show it, you can have them build an upholstery pan when you order it...(that's the greenish colored thing you see), but it's totally worth the $40? to get it made. And then I had a local shop cover it to my design.

I got this one:

A few notes, the length was just a tad longer than I wanted, so after I received it, I cut the front of the seat pan/upholstery pan back about 2 inches. No issues fitting it... It's wider than the rails so it will sit down low, and will clear the rear hoop.

As I mentioned, I built a base to use the side hinges (Probably could have used the pan itself, but felt like getting it up off the rails would add too much stress:

Hope this helps...good luck.